"Once again we are faced with local beaches that must be closed as a result of threats to human health. These closures damage the local economy and reduce quality of life of the area. Elevated bacteria levels from polluted runoff are an ongoing problem and one that could be fixed through investments in better stormwater management. Those investments would not only reduce the bacteria, but also the pollution that causes harmful algae blooms and creates dead zones, areas with too little oxygen to support aquatic life. These investments would improve water quality, our local seafood industry, and quality of life in the region."